Manufacture of phonograph-record blanks.



V. M. HARRIS. MANUE'AGTURE 0I' PHONOGRAPH RECORD BLANES. ArPLIoATIoIFILED s1:1 1.1s,19oa.

@32Go Pateted June 7, 1910.

E* wmllllnnlmlllllmlll/ll/l1111111111111 i To all whom 'it 'may4concern.;

Y "UNIT-i3.. Stearns PATENT onirica VARIAN M. HARRIS., OF CHICAGO,ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, '.110

THE UNITED STATES PHONOGRALPH COMPANY, OF CLEVELAND, 'OHIOf-A' CQRPORA-v TIoN or omo. i

.'MANUFAQTUBE or PHoNoGRArH-REGORD BLANKS.

Be it known that I, .AnilaN M. HARRIS, citizen of the United States,resident of `Chicago, c ounty of Cook, and State of Illinois, haveinvented a new and useful Improvement `in Manufacture of Phonograpli;Record Blanks, of which theifollowingis a speciication, the principle ofthe invention being herein explained and the bestl mode in which I havec onteiiiplated applying that' principle so as to distinguish it fromotherinventions.

This invention relates to a process of forming phonograph record blanksfrom sheets of Celluloid, and has for its object'to provide a sini leand eiiicient process-of joining the abutting ends of the sheets ofcelluloid in a strong and permanent manner, the

process being more especially adapted for ]oining a sheet of thematerial bent into a tubular form, and so held while abutting.

ends are joined to etherA to form a tubular phonograph recor blank,equal in all respects to the drawn tubes or cylinders heretofore used inthe manufacture of phonograph records, all as will hereinafter more ullyappear.

In tlie accompanying drawing illustrative of an apparatus adapted topracticallyr carry on the present improved process: Figure 1 is alongitudinal section oii line .fc-ac, Fig. 3. Fig. 2 is a similarsection with parts occupyf ing a diiierent operative position, and Fig.3

is an end elevation.

Similar numerals of reference indicate like parts in the views.

Referring to the drawings, l represents a stationary; slideway of anyusual construction, an provided with suitable feet by which it issupported in a horizontal position upon a work bench or table. 2,-are aplurality of saddle pieces secured in fixed relation to the. slideway,aiidadapted to support the cylindrical Work holder in proper positioniiithe apparatus.

3,' is the cylindrical Work lholder above referred to, and consisting ofa cylindrical shell of metal, .or other equivalent rigid ma-y terial,slitted along its .length to form the longitudinal opening or gap 4 inthe Wall of the holder as shown..

-5 are cars upon the opposedfcdges' of the gap 4, through which passesadjusting screw 6 by whichv an adjustment in the diameter ofSpecification of Le'tters Patent.

Application filed September 18,'1908. Serial No. 453,634.

Patented Jim@ 7.19.1 0

the holder can be effected as required-inthe;

actual and continued use of the apparatus. :-v I

7, isthe sheet of celluloidfto be operated r upon, and which is bentinto cylindrical f forni, and inserted into the interior of the fcylindrical holder 3, VWith the meeting edges4 and seam formed thereby,locatedV at the.

underside`of the blank celluloid cylinder so.: formed, and asshown-,more particularly.in,.4 Fig. 2.

8, isva carriage sliding longitiidinally:onthe slideway 41, and carryinga su ply tank 965, I in which is contained a supply o cementing.

fluid used in the practica operation of the apparatus, and .which fiuidwill usually consist of a cellulose product dissolved in ether, -f 'A orthe other solvent likewise capable of dissolving the material composinthe sheet l0, 1s a fountain penpivota y supported@ on the carriage 8 andhaving one en 'con-v nected by a fiexibl form and ends in a capillarydischarge oir'i't 12 through which thecementing iuld ows, as said pointmoves in contact with thel work.

13, is a depending operating arm rigidly connected to the fountain pen10, aforesaid.

14 and 15 are stationary stops arranged ncar'tlie limit ofthelongitudinal travel of` the carriage 9, in each direction, which sto sare adapted to alternately contact with t e 't5 t arm 13, to raise thedischarge point 12 froid automatic manner durinflrr thecontinuedlopconnection with the apparatus ju'st described 95:'

is as followsz' A sheet of celluloi'll of the proper dimensions is bentinto a oy indrical form and inserted in the interior fjf the cy#-lindrical Work holder 3, which ijfladjusted. to the required diameter bythe e tube 11, with thesupply Y tank 9, while its other end is of anelongated 75'.;g

eginning of the a tive9o djfistn i Lscrews 6. Tlie Work holder is thoriplao e in position von. the sad'dle'pieces 'ijlfwith the seam 'of thecelluloidl cylinder looatcd at the llowerinost .point in the. height ofsaid cyl- 'inder as shown. The Qperatornow-mo'vesl05 Ithe carriage 8 tobring the dischargepoint 12 of .the fountain pen 10, toA therear end ofthe'interior of the work-and work holder, and as such position isreached the stop 15 contacts with arm. 13. toautomatieally depress thedischargefpoint 12 to an operative position. A return movement is' nowim,- parted to the l carriage and the discharge point 12, is vdrawn aseam of the celluloid sheet 7 to deposit the cementing solutiongjviththeending of such -active or return stroke of the carriage, the

stop 14; contacts with the arm 13, to automatically raise thedischargepoint 12 into its normal inoperative position. The workv holder with itscontained cylinder of celluloid is now removed from the apparatus andstacked away to dry out, and is replaced by a succeeding holder and itscontained sheet of celluloid, the system requiring .a large -number ofcounterpart work'helders in the crease in cost, than by methodsheretofore prevailing but'actually to produce a much superior article;for it is essential to the taking of an accurate and faultless record onthe blank, that its outer surface be as highly lpolished as possible.Such polishing is of course obtained in a much more perfect degree, aswell as more easily, when the material is insheet form than in the Acaseof tubular articles. .In my method of butt` welding the edfres of thesheets together by exteriorly supporting the same and applying thesolvent from within, I not only avoid any ridge or inequality, whichwould be fatal to the usefulnessof the article for the purposeA in hand,but I preserve the smooth exterior of the sheet, now become a cylinder,with such success, that it becomes impossible to detect in the 'finishedarticle the original l line of cleavage.

Other modes ofa Jplying the principle of my invention may e employedinstead of the one explained, change being made as regards the processherein disclosed, provided the step or steps stated by any one of thefollowing claims or the e uivalent of such statedste or steps be emp oed.

I there ore particularly point out and distinctly claim as 'myinvention 1. .In the manufacture of phonograph recvord blanks, the ste swhich consist in form-.

ing a sheet of-cel uloid with edges at substantially right angles to thesurface ofthe sheet, bringing two such edges together under pressureexerted transversely thereof,

ong the longitudinall and simultaneously effecting the softening andadhesion of such abutting edges. y

` 2. In the manufacture of phonograph record blanks, the steps whichconsist in form- -ing a sheet 0f celluloid with edgesat substantiallyvright angles to the surface of the sheet, bringing two opposite edgestogether and causing such edges to abut by pressing exteriorly on thesheet, and simultaneously effecting the softening and adhesion of theabutting edges.

3. In' the manufacture of phonograph record blanks, the steps whichconsist in forming a sheet of celluloid with edges at substantiallyright angles to the surface of the sheet, bringing two opposite edgestogether and causing such edges to abut by pressing exteriorly on thesheet, and simultaneously applying a suitable solvent along suchabutting edges, whereby their softening and adheslon-is effected.

4. In the manufacture of phonograph reeord blanks, the ste s whichvconsist in forming a sheet of cel uloid with edges at substantiallyright angles to the surface of the sheet, bringing two opposite edgestogether and causing such edges to abut by pressing exteriorly on thesheet, and simultaneously applying a suitable solvent along such edgesfrom` within, whereby their softening andadhesion is effected. v

5. In the-manufacture of phonographrecord blanks, the ste s whichconsist in forming asheet of cel uloid with edges at substantially rightangles to the surface of the sheet, bringing two opposite edges togetherand causing such ed es to abut by pressing exteriorly on the s ect, saidsheet beingA horizontally disposed with such abutting edges locatedlower-most, and applying a suitable solvent along such edges fromwithinLWhercby their softening and adhesion is effected.

6. In the manufacture of phonograph record blanks, the steps whichconsist in forming a sheet of celluloid with edges at substantiallyright angles to the surface of the sheet, maintaining the sheet insubstantiallycylindrical form, causing the meeting edges to abut by-pressing exteriorly on the cylinder, and simultaneously effecting thesoftening and adhesion of such abutting edges.

7. In the manufacture of phonograph reeord blanks, the steps whichconsist in forming a sheet of..celluloid with edges at substantiallyright angles to the surface of the sheet, maintaining the sheet insubstantially cylindrical form, causing the meeting edges der, andapplying a -suitable solvent along such abutting edges, whereby theirsoftening and adhesion is effected. k

8. In the manufacture of phonograph. reeord blanks, the steps whichconsist in forming a sheet of celluloid with edges at sub- -to abut bypressing exteriorly on the cyllnstantially right angles to the surface vof the and'alplying a sultablesolvent alontg such l ed es m within-whereby their so toning an adhesion iseilected.

softening an f 'record blanks, the ste sheet, 'maintaining the sheet insubstantially cylindrical -formzl causing the meeting edges to v abut bypresslng exteriorly on the sheet,

9. In the manufacture o'f phonograph rec-f Acrd blanks, the stas whichconsist in form#- ing a sheet ofce uloid with edges at'sub stantiallyright angles to the sur ace ofthe sheet, maintaining the sheet'insubstantially"- edges forming a sheet .of cel uloidswith edges atsubstantially `right angles to the surface-ofl the sheet; maintainingthe sheet in substantially cylindrical form, 1

causing the 7 meeting to -4abut by exteriorly press' -by a smooth .surace,

abutting edges locate low-.. e'rmost, and applying va. suitable solventedges p onthe cy Inder, exteriorly supporting' suc edges by a smoothsurface sol-vent along l such edges whereby their softening and adhesionis effecttl', and asmo'oth exterior surface preserv n t record blanksgthe formjn a sheet of celluloid with edges substantia y atright anglesto the surface of the sheet, maintaining the sheet in substantiallycylindrical form, 4causing the meeti edges to abutlby ressing exteriorlyon the cy inder, exterior supporting such edges horizontally disposededges suitable solvent alon such edges in', whereby their so with suchabutting mvwithemng and adhesion 1s eiecte'd, and v a' smooth exteriorsurface 'pre' served.-

T90 f 1 v [VARIAN M.' planners.v Ammanf N Smus.

and applying a suitable 'y from within,

said cylinder being.

located lowermost, and a plying al Signed by me this 15th day ofSeptembel, `v

, 11. In the manufacture of phonographjl` steps which conslst l1n A-

